Masonry Magazine June 1984 Page. 11
Pre-assembled Masonry Panels
Help Speed Toledo Construction Project
A crane positions a section of brick panel toward the south tower of downtown Toledo's new Four SeaGate office building. By laying up panel sections in a nearby industrial plant, general contractor Rudolph Libbe was able to save approximately 10 weeks of construction time.
One constant on a construction site, especially in the northern climates, is the unpredictability of winter's weather a factor which can cause havoc with even the most carefully prepared schedules.
A Toledo general contractor, Rudolph/Libbe/Inc., recently adapted a time-saving building method to forestall weather interruptions during the critical exterior masonry phase of the downtown area's new Four SeaGate Building-a 10-story, 270,000 sq. ft. office tower currently under construction.
While it was originally planned to erect the building's brick masonry skin in the traditional fashion-on site, one brick at a time-Rudolph/Libbe's thinking changed early last fall as it neared completion of the post-tensioned concrete structure-a phase which the contractor completed in 100 calendar days (a local record for highrise concrete construction).
The contractor faced the harsh reality that, in order to close in the structure before winter's heavy weather, sufficient time would be needed to erect scaffolding and lay up more than 300,000 jumbo brick. In addition, perfect weather would be required through December-hardly likely in Toledo.
Fortunately, the design of the building's masonry system was uncomplicated the brick facade laid in sections on steel frames attached to each of the cantilevered concrete.
A worker positions a corner section of "job cast" brick panel into place on the Four SeaGate office tower. The panels were used for the building's exterior skin.